Holy Spirit Catholic School eNewsletter

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to the new school year! It was lovely seeing the beaming faces of our children and families as they entered through the school gates on Monday morning. A special welcome to new staff and families. We hope your time at Holy Spirit Catholic School is filled with new learnings, new opportunities and new friendships.

Term 1 School Captains

This morning at our Whole School Assembly, we acknowledged our Term 1 School Captains. Congratulations to Cameron Brown and Bella Uwera who will work alongside our Leadership Team this term to be the voice of our students and assist as required. All our student leaders for 2023 will be inducted at our Beginning of Year liturgy next Wednesday morning.

Cameron Brown Bella Uwera

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Launch

It was an absolute privilege to have Uncle Brenton Creed with us at our special assembly this morning to officially welcome us to country. We took the opportunity to launch our Reconciliation Plan for 2023 and we encourage you to view this video via our facebook page to hear about the ways in which Holy Spirit Catholic School will take action throughout the year. Thank you to Mrs Anne Mendiolea for putting the video together. To celebrate the launch, children enjoyed cake!

New Assembly Roster

To maximise learning and teaching time we are trialling a new Assembly roster and routine. Assemblies will be held on Wednesday mornings from 8.40am – 9.10am. Please click on this link to see the roster for when Lower School, Upper School and Whole School assemblies will take place.

Best wishes
Kath

Welcome back to another exciting year at Holy Spirit Catholic School. It was wonderful to see the smiling happy faces on the students (and parents) as they arrived on Monday. Beautiful weather was on our side for once. Thank you for the effort that goes into preparing your students with uniforms, lunch boxes, hats, shoes, washing, running around the shops etc. Our students stand out and look amazing thanks to your time and efforts.

This year, we have taken the feedback and adjusted uniform days. This will also assist the students on their PE days as they will be in sports uniform. The schedule is listed here

We have designed a fridge magnet, pictured above to help with remembering the uniform days. These will be handed out in the coming days.

As the year gets underway, a reminder that we have 3 designated pick up zones. Hatchett Street, the Church carpark and Albert St. If parents are coming into the school to collect children, we ask that you only use designated parking bays and not on footpaths and in 'No Standing' zones.

Happy Days

Paul

Welcome back to the 2023 school year. It was lovely to see so many smiling faces yesterday as our families returned to school. A special welcome to those families and students that are new to our school. Each year, our school focuses on a Holy Spirit Mercy Value – Compassion, Justice, Respect, Hospitality, Service and Courage. We also have an additional value – Excellence. The Founder of the Sisters of Mercy, The Venerable Mother Catherine McAuley, is displayed prominently on the side of the Lynch Family Hall as you enter our school. She was a guiding light with her testimony of faith, holiness and hope as she ministered to the poor and disadvantaged. Our school was joined by the Sisters of Mercy in 1971 and their charism of mercy and justice is just as important to us today. Pope Francis said: ‘People today…need us to bear witness to the mercy and tenderness of the Lord which warms the heart, rekindles hope, and attracts people towards the good.’

This week at Holy Spirit we value compassion. What does this mean? It means
sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. Compassion gives us the ability to understand someone else's situation and the desire to take action to improve their lives. It is the quality that allows us to step outside of ourselves and see the circumstances of others. It supplies the will power to do what is necessary to make the world a more caring place. This week we pray our students show others compassion in and out of the classroom.

Our senior leaders will be involved in leadership activities this week to determine how they can be shining witnesses of God’s love and mercy in the way they lead in our school during the coming year. They will be identifying the values and factors that will enable them to be good role models in their leadership role. I look forward to working closely with students chosen to represent our school as leaders.

Next Wednesday morning, our school community will gather for our Opening Liturgy. In addition to celebrating the beginning of a new school year, we will commission our student leaders at the end of the prayer. Our Year Six students have a very important role in developing school spirit as leaders and role models to the younger students. The Opening School Liturgy will commence at 8.40am in the Lynch Family Hall. Everyone is welcome to join us. I look forward to seeing you all there.

SAINT JOHN BOSCO is the patron saint of apprentices, editors and publishers, schoolchildren, magicians, and juvenile delinquents. His feast day is next Tuesday – January 31. He was born in Piedmont, Italy and grew up in extreme poverty. After ordination, he devoted his whole life to educating young people, especially the poor. He founded the Salesians, men and women who continue this work with youth throughout the world.

As we go about our work O God,
As we strive to walk with Jesus
Remind us that we are the face of Christ,
Who is with us always.
May your grace, mercy and peace,
Bless us, protect us and transform us all,
This day, now and forever. Amen

God bless
Caroline Fuller

Dear Parents/Carers,

Please see the attached information for the 2023 Holy Spirit Parish Sacramental Programme here. In this week’s newsletter, families will also find this information in relation to the Holy Spirit Parish Sacramental Programme. If you are intending your child/ren to participate in this year’s programme, please download the necessary forms and return to the Parish Office.

Parents / Carers will also need to collect a card from the Parish Office for students to colour and add a photo. This will then be displayed in the Church. If you are having any problems with downloading the forms, please call the school or the Parish. The Programme is for students in Year 4, 5 and 6.

Alternatively, Enrolment Forms are available at the Holy Spirit Parish Office. Registration is open until 3rd February.

Kind regards
Caroline Fuller on behalf of the Parish

We love to have our families volunteer in our school as it contributes to a positive atmosphere to our school community. Anybody volunteering in our Catholic School s are required to complete an induction. This consists of 8 modules and a short quiz.

The Induction modules and quiz are located on our school website and can be accessed here.

Following the completion of these modules you will receive a certificate of completion via email, you are required to forward this certificate to Ms Nicole Lennox, and his email is: nlennox1@hsstsv.catholic.edu.au

The following forms do need to be completed and handed to the office.

These forms can also be collected from the front office if this assists. If there any questions, please contact the office, your class teacher.

Gates to our school open just before 8am as supervision for students on our school grounds begins at 8am. Students in Years 1 -3 sit in Bibi Goo Yumba from 8am to 8.15am while the students from Years 4-6 sit in the Hall..

Gates will be closed at 8.45 am and any visitors to our school are then required to sign in through the school office. It is all about keeping everyone safe.

The gates open again in the afternoon at 2.30 for those parents wishing to pick students up from the classroom.

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Welcome back to school everyone and a special warm welcome to our new defence students and families.

My name is Haylie Stanhope, your DSM - Defence School Mentor. I will be keeping everyone up to speed with events and information from DMFS (Defence Member and Family Support) through the school newsletter, so watch this space.

I have worked in this role for a number of years and have enjoyed looking after defence students and their families. I am available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during school hours and can be contacted in person, through the office or by email ...hstanhope@hsstsv.catholic.edu.au

I look forward to meeting our new defence students and families in the next few weeks as well as catching up with our other students and families.

Take Care

Haylie

DMFS TOWNSVILLE’S UPCOMING EVENTS

Coffee Connections Jan/Feb, Watermark Hotel - Tuesday 31 January

To kick off 2023 in style, were heading to Watermark Hotel at The Strand. Come along and meet other spouses and get to know your friendly Family Liaison Officers, Meagan and Kim. New to Townsville or have been here a while, everyone’s welcome!

If you know of someone posting in and may not be on our mailing list, flick them the link so they can register to attend. Coffee Connections is a recurring event, held on the first Tuesday of each month. To register for future events, check out our Eventbrite page, follow the DMFS social media platforms or send us an email to subscribe to the DMFS mailing list.

This is a self-funded activity. Attendees are responsible for the cost of purchasing their own food and drinks. Children welcome under direct parent/carer supervision.

Where: Watermark, The Strand

When: Tuesday 31 January 9:30am-11:30am

Registration: Eventbrite - Coffee Connections

DMFS Welcome & Information Expo - Saturday 11 February

Defence Member & Family Support Townsville invite ADF members and families to our Welcome and Information expo!

Discover what the Townsville region has to offer you and your family with over 100 exhibitors including local community and sporting groups, Government organisations and other service providers.

Where: Townsville Stadium, Murray

When: Saturday 11 February, 10:00am-1:00pm

Registration: Eventbrite - DMFS Welcome & Information Expo

Defence Member and Family Helpline

We are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8am-8.25am in the hall.

Your support with donations of spreads (not nut based) and bread are needed and appreciated, due to the increase in children accessing the program.

Donations can be dropped off at Tuckshop.

Holy Spirit Catholic School has embedded the National School Chaplaincy program into its ethos and practice, since 2011. The program continues to support whole-school initiatives that promote inclusive collaboration with students, families, staff and the wider community.

Whole-school, community and class activities such as the Breakfast Program, Mini Vinnies, lunchtime activities, Circle Time and the Spirit Playgroup promote healthy relationships that extend the Spirit of generosity, to lead by example through commitment to the “Spirit Way” values of being Safe, Persistent, Inclusive, Respectful, Inspiring and Thankful.

Chaplains have a significant relationship with the Principal and other members of the school administration team, to support the pastoral needs of students. Kerry Donlan is the Pastoral Chaplain at Holy Spirit School and has been of service to Catholic Education for the past 20 years. Kerry’s experience in education and professional development ensures an inclusive approach to pastoral care and working with all students, staff, families and the wider community.

For more information about pastoral support services, please contact Kerry at kdonlan1@hsstsv.catholic.edu.au

New resource to help you speak with your kids about online safety

eSafety’s Mighty heroes is a new resource for kids aged 5 - 8 years old. It features four short-animated videos and conversation starters for parents to talk to kids and reflect on the online safety messages in each chapter.

There are four heroes - Wanda the echidna, River the sugar glider, Dusty the frilled neck lizard, and Billie the bilby - and each has an online safety superpower to share with your family.

You can also hear the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, talk about the Mighty heroes on the latest Squiz Kids podcast.

Make smart and safe tech gift choices this holiday season

The latest technology can make great gifts for children and young people, but it’s important to be aware of the risks that come along with these gadgets.

The eSafety Gift Guide offers advice on what to consider when giving kids gifts like drones, gaming headsets and wearable devices, as well as whether a device is age appropriate and what parental controls are available.

You can also learn more about immersive technologies and how to help young people interact in virtual environments safely.

Kick off the new year with a family tech agreement

A family tech agreement is a set of rules about how devices, like smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs and gaming consoles, are used in your home.

Download a tech agreement template and get working on a set of rules that will work for your family.

Holy Spirit Catholic School uses Flexischools ordering system. To register, login or to place orders, please click this link:

Flexischools

ROSTER
30.01.23	Kerri Player
31.01.23	Shelley Connor
01.02.23	Anita Coggiola
02.02.23	Margaret Vaughan
06.02.23	Brooke Vass, Nicole Boon
07.02.23	Shelley Connor

HELPERS WANTED! HELPERS WANTED! HELPERS WANTED!

Letters were sent home Monday with your children, looking for volunteers in the tuckshop and helpers with the fruit and cake roster.

If you are considering volunteering in our tuckshop, please feel free to drop in and see Gayle and Linda to have a chat or email at tuckshoporders@hsstsv.catholic.edu.au

Event
February

Date

01.02.23	Whole School Assembly - Beginning of Year Liturgy
06.02.23	Playgroup
08.02.23	Lower School Assembly - 2B

Term Dates 2023
Term 2	Monday 17 April 2023	Friday 23 June 2023
Term 3	Monday 10 July 2023	Friday 15 September 2023
Term 4	Tuesday 3 October 2023	Friday 1 December 2023

Pupil Free Day Friday 1st September, 2023

All uniform supplies are available at The School Locker, Domain Central (close to Bunnings). Phone 1800 826 155

The School Locker

If your child is going to be absent, please enter the details through Compass, as this is the most efficient way to inform the school.

Wednesday Assemblies
All assemblies in the hall	8.40am

Daily Bell Times
8.15 am	Students are allowed to move to class
8.30 am	School day commences
10.30 am	Morning tea bell
10.55 am	Five minute warning bell
11.00 am	School day resumes
1.00 pm	Lunch bell
1.25 pm	Five minute warning bell
1.30 pm	School day resumes.
2.50 pm	School day concludes

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